Syringe with rotatable element, systems including the syringe, and associated methods

Abstract

A syringe includes a barrel and a rotatable element on the barrel; for example at a proximal location along the length of the barrel. The rotatable element rotates at least partially around the barrel. When a handle is associated with the rotatable element, the barrel may rotate as the handle his held substantially stationary or the handle may be rotated while the barrel and any peripheral device secured thereto remain substantially stationary. When handles are associated with a rotatable element that may be removed from a barrel, a barrel that is disassembled from the rotatable element may be replaced with another barrel of the same or a different configuration. Methods of using a syringe with a rotatable element on a barrel thereof are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A syringe comprising:
 a barrel that comprises:
 a distal end having a distal tip; 
 a proximal end opposite from the distal end; 
 an axle circumferentially recessed relative to an outer surface of the barrel and located at the proximal end of the barrel; 
 a receptacle defined in and extending axially through the barrel; and 
 a retention feature capable of preventing removal of a rotatable element from the axle; 
 
 a plunger, a distal end of which is disposed in the receptacle within the barrel and a proximal end of which extends from the proximal end of the barrel; 
 the rotatable element positioned over the axle of the barrel and extending over only a portion of a length of the barrel, a proximal ridge adjacent to the axle capable of retaining the rotatable element on an exterior of the barrel to prevent distal movement of the rotatable element along the barrel while enabling the rotatable element to spin around the axle of the barrel, the rotatable element being located between the retention feature of the barrel and the distal end of the barrel; and 
 a handle protruding from the rotatable element. 
 
     
     
       2. The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable element is positioned between the proximal ridge and a locking element located on opposite sides of the axle. 
     
     
       3. The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the axle comprises a single circumferential protrusion having an annular shape, the single circumferential protrusion engaging a single groove formed in an inner surface of the rotatable element. 
     
     
       4. The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe is capable of substantially preventing movement of the rotatable element toward and away from each of the proximal and distal ends of the barrel without preventing rotation of the rotatable element about the axle. 
     
     
       5. The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the retention feature is located between the rotatable element and the proximal end of the barrel. 
     
     
       6. The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a locking element disposed on the barrel toward the proximal end thereof and capable of retaining the rotatable element on the axle. 
 
     
     
       7. The syringe of  claim 6 , wherein the axle is also circumferentially recessed relative to an outer surface of the locking element. 
     
     
       8. The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises finger loops. 
     
     
       9. The syringe of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the plunger comprises a thumb loop. 
     
     
       10. The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable element comprises a pair of axially aligned hinge elements protruding therefrom. 
     
     
       11. The syringe of  claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises a syringe actuation handle that includes a pair of members that are pivotally associated with one another, one of the members being pivotally coupled to the axially aligned hinge elements of the rotatable element, and another of the members being pivotally coupled to the plunger. 
     
     
       12. A syringe comprising:
 a barrel that comprises:
 a distal tip; 
 a proximal end opposite from the distal tip; 
 the proximal end comprising an axle at an outer surface of the barrel; 
 a wall defining a receptacle that extends axially through the barrel; and 
 a retention feature capable of preventing removal of a rotatable element from the axle; 
 
 the rotatable element disposed around the axle of the barrel and extending over only a portion of a length of the barrel, a proximal ridge adjacent to the axle capable of preventing distal movement of the rotatable element while enabling the rotatable element to spin around the axle of the barrel, the retention feature of the barrel being located between the rotatable element and the proximal end of the barrel; and 
 a handle protruding from the rotatable element. 
 
     
     
       13. The syringe of  claim 12 , further comprising a plunger partially disposed in the receptacle and extending out of the proximal end of the barrel. 
     
     
       14. The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein the barrel includes a first outer diameter and a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter defining the axle, and wherein the rotatable element is disposed about the second outer diameter. 
     
     
       15. The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein the axle comprises a single circumferential protrusion having an annular shape, the single circumferential protrusion engaging a single groove formed in an inner surface of the rotatable element. 
     
     
       16. The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein the syringe is capable of substantially preventing movement of the rotatable element toward and away from the proximal end and the distal tip of the barrel without preventing rotation of the rotatable element about the axle. 
     
     
       17. The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein the rotatable element is located between the retention feature and the distal tip of the barrel. 
     
     
       18. The syringe of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a locking element disposed on the barrel toward the proximal end thereof and capable of retaining the rotatable element on the axle. 
 
     
     
       19. The syringe of  claim 18 , wherein the axle is circumferentially recessed relative to an outer surface of a main body of the barrel and relative to an outer surface of the locking element. 
     
     
       20. The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein the handle comprises finger loops that protrude from the rotatable element. 
     
     
       21. The syringe of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a plunger, a distal end of which is disposed in the receptacle within the barrel and a proximal end of which extends out from the proximal end of the barrel, wherein the proximal end of the plunger comprises a thumb loop. 
 
     
     
       22. The syringe of  claim 12 , wherein the rotatable element comprises a pair of axially aligned hinge elements protruding therefrom. 
     
     
       23. The syringe of  claim 22 , wherein the handle includes a pair of members pivotally associated with one another, one of the members being pivotally coupled to the hinge elements, and another of the members being pivotally coupled to a plunger.